Michael Jackson Music Videos

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Thriller is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. The album was released on November 30, 1982 by Epic Records as the follow-up to Jackson's critically and commercially successful 1979 album Off the Wall. Thriller explores similar genres to those of Off the Wall, including funk, disco, soul, soft rock, R&B and pop. However, Thriller's lyrics deal with generally darker themes, including paranoia and the supernatural.

With a production budget of US$750,000, recording sessions took place between April and November 1982 at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California. Assisted by producer Quincy Jones, Jackson wrote four of Thriller's nine tracks. Following the release of the album's first single "The Girl Is Mine", some observers assumed Thriller would only be a minor hit record. With the release of the second single "Billie Jean", the album topped the charts in many countries. At its peak, the album was selling a million copies a week worldwide. In just over a year, Thriller became—and currently remains—the best-selling album of all time. Sales are estimated to be between 47–109 million copies sold worldwide. Seven of the album's nine songs were released as singles, and all reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album won a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards at the 1984 Grammys, including awards in three different genres—pop, R&B and rock.

Thriller cemented Jackson's status as one of the predominant pop stars of the late 20th century, and enabled him to break down racial barriers via his appearances on MTV and meetings with President Ronald Reagan at the White House. The album was one of the first to use music videos as successful promotional tools—the videos for "Thriller", "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" all received regular rotation on MTV. In 2001, a special edition issue of the album was released, which contains additional audio interviews, a demo recording and the song "Someone In the Dark", which was a Grammy-winning track from the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial storybook.[9] In 2008, the album was reissued again as Thriller 25, containing re-mixes that feature contemporary artists, a previously unreleased song and a DVD.

Thriller ranked number 20 on Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list in 2003, and was listed by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers at number three in their Definitive 200 Albums of All Time. Thriller was preserved by the Library of Congress to the National Recording Registry, as it was deemed "culturally significant." wikipedia.org

Thursday, July 16, 2009

"They Don't Care About Us" is the fourth single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory. The song remains one of the most controversial pieces Jackson ever composed. In the US, media scrutiny surrounding alleged antisemitic lyrics were the catalyst for Jackson issuing multiple apologies and re-recording the album–altering the lyrics for that particular track. The singer countered allegations of antisemitism, arguing that reviews had misinterpreted the context of the song, either unintentionally or deliberately. Musically, it is an aggressive hip-hop production about social ills.

The song was accompanied by two music videos directed by Spike Lee. The first was shot in Brazil, in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Salvador. The second video was shot in a prison and contained video footage of multiple references to human rights abuses.

Commercially, the song became a top ten hit in all European countries. In the US, radio stations were reluctant to play the controversial composition; it, however, managed to peak at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" is a song by American R&B musician Michael Jackson, featured on his 1982 sixth studio album Thriller. Released as the fourth single from the album on May 8, 1983, the song peaked at number five on the American Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, topped the American Hot Black Singles and Hot Dance Club Songs charts and reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was re-recorded with hip hop artist Akon for the 2008 reissue album Thriller 25 under the title "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" and was released as a single, charting at number 48 in the United States.One of the songs released as a single without an accompanying video, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" nonetheless has attained a popularity rivaling its sister compositions on the album, and had become Jackson's song of choice for opening live concerts, partly due to "startin' something" such as the concert. Not being as strictly associated with a specific dance routine as those others has arguably allowed for more flexibility in performances and staging.Two notable occurrences that happened during live performances were the physically complicated "stop/start" dance technique that brought Jackson and his dancers to a frozen stop several times, and the sing-along between performer and audience during the bridge."Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was also used on every set list of Jackson's tours, from the Victory Tour in 1984, right the way through to the HIStory Tour in 1997.

"Gone Too Soon" is a song originally performed by Michael Jackson. It is the ninth single taken from the album Dangerous. It peaked at #33 on the UK Singles Chart in December 1993.The song is dedicated to Ryan White, a young victim of AIDS whom Jackson befriended prior to his death. Michael performed this song at the ball for former President Bill Clinton's first inauguration on January 20, 1993, where he highlighted the importance of supporting research for a cure to this disease.The music video was featured on the home video "Dangerous - The Short Films".The track was included on the compilation album, Diana Princess of Wales Tribute, released by Sony in December 1997, shortly after the death of Princess Diana. The song was further covered by Babyface, as a duet with Stevie Wonder, during his MTV Unplugged session.Usher performed the song at Jackson's memorial service on July 7th, 2009.

"Billie Jean" is a dance-pop R&B song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was written by Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones for the singer's sixth studio album, Thriller (1982). Originally disliked by Jones, the track was almost removed from the album after he and Jackson had numerous disagreements (see below: Recording). The song's lyrics refer to a real-life experience, in which a mentally ill female fan claimed that Jackson fathered one of her twins. The song is well known for its distinctive bass line and Jackson's vocal hiccups. The song was mixed 91 times by Bruce Swedien before it was finalized.

Following the successful chart performances of Thriller and "The Girl Is Mine", "Billie Jean" was released on January 2, 1983, as the album's second single. "Billie Jean" was a worldwide commercial and critical success; it became one of the best-selling singles of 1983, and topped both the US and UK charts simultaneously. Considered one of the most revolutionary songs in history, "Billie Jean" was certified platinum in 1989.

Honoured numerous times—including two Grammy Awards, one American Music Award and an induction into the Music Video Producers Hall of Fame—the song and corresponding music video propelled Thriller into the best-selling album of all time. The song was promoted with a short film that broke down MTV's racial barrier as the first video by a black artist to be aired by the channel, and an Emmy-nominated performance on Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, in which Jackson premiered "the moonwalk." The song was also promoted through Jackson's Pepsi commercials; during the filming of one commercial, Jackson's scalp was severely burned. Covered and sampled by modern artists, "Billie Jean" sealed Jackson's status as an international pop icon. wikipedia.org

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Michael Jackson - Torture (Lyrics and Music Video)It was on the street so evil, so bad that even hell disowned it.Every single step was trouble for the fool who stumbled on it.Eyes within the dark were watchin' I felt that sudden chill of danger.Something told me to keep on walkin' told me I should not have gone there.

Baby, because you cut me like a knife without your love in my life.I'm out, I'm walkin' the night 'cause I just canmt stop this feelin'.It's torture, it's torture, it's torture.

She was up a stair to nowhere.A room forever I'll remember.She said as though I should have known her,Tell me, what's your pain or pleasure?Every little thing you find here is simply for the thrill you're after.Loneliness or hearts on fire.I am here to serve all masters.

She said Reality is a knife when there's no love in your life.Unmerciful is the night when you just can't stop this feelin'.It's torture, it's torture, it's torture.

And I still can't find the meaning of the face I keep on seeing.Was she real or am I dreaming?Did the sound of your name turn a wheel, strike a flame in me?

Baby, because you cut me like a knife without your love in my life.I'm out, I'm walkin' the night and I just can't stop this feeling.It's torture, it's torture, it's torture.

She said Reality is a knife when there's no love in your life.Unmerciful is the night when you just can't stop this feelin'.It's torture, it's torture, it's torture.